Lotus Challenge

[fishguy]

I cannot find the thread, and am not really interested in spending the time to do the search on it.
I remember reading a thread that a bunch of guys(HPDE/track day crowd) were wanting to start a Lotus Challange series out west, and were all saying "I am in" as though , if there were such a series, they would join in a heartbeat, BUT because there is not, they will just "wish" for it to be available.
Well boys,
i raced at the HSR-West event at PIR in AZ this weekend, and guess what group # 8 was........................
it was a lotus challange group.
how many entrants......................? Zero
why, if you guys are serious about what you "say" you want, then why is nobody running in this. i know there are cup car owners in SoCal.
I am letting you know it is/was availble, but who knows for next season with the huge turnout that i saw.
there were 2 newer lotus cars at this event, one exige ,looked like a converted street car with safety updates, and then the sweetest lotus i have ever seen.
it was a factory exige race car, the owner said only one of 4 built, it was the euro version, and was stunning.
I spoke with the owner breifly, he was very cool, and looked to be fast out on the track. i didnt get to watch to much, as my group was up next, so i had to get ready for my race in the Titan.
So, my big question is why are there zero cars out there(from the ET group that says we need to have this, and "if it were available, count me in")? i would think the 2 cars that were already at the event would do the group 8 (lotus challange) if there were more cars in the run group, though i cannot, and do not want to speak for them.

I have pictures of the car, but am going to hold them "hostage" until there is an explaination of why nobody, who is saying "I am in" isnt in fact "In".
Are you guys just full of hot air and bravado, or are you going to take advantage of an opportunity.
Lotus cars was even the sponsor of the HSR west event; either just for this race, or maybe the entire year, i am not sure.
the pictures of the factory race car are really nice........................
BTW, the factory exige car/driver combo would kick arse on all other lotus cars IMO.

[boxerman]

It needs to be on the east coast, there are already too many other similar(radical for example) racing events on the west coast. What should distinguish lotus events is aceesability and close to stock to contain car costs. In th Asian events things seem acessable and more casual. We dont need another whole SCCA system for more casual lotus events. Think the type of club racing that existed in the 50"s.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by boxerman

It needs to be on the east coast, there are already too many other similar(radical for example) racing events on the west coast.

And here we have an explanation of why amateur racing in this country is in the state it is. Geography.


Now... let's see those pics!

[ryoung99]

Fishguy,

I was the guy who started that other thread, and with no response as opposed to ordering a 2-11, we bought a nice big boat, put an engine if our offshore racing boat and accepted a ride in a midget with the BCRA.

Thus it is a bummer that nothing was posted prior to then. Who knows what the future holds, but right now there are too many racing vehicles in my future to add another one.

Rick

[Toad]

Originally Posted by codymac

And here we have an explanation of why amateur racing in this country is in the state it is. Geography.


Now... let's see those pics!

Ya know Texas is nice and centrally located for such an event

[ace10]

Originally Posted by fishguy

I cannot find the thread, and am not really interested in spending the time to do the search on it....

that's ok, i'm not really interested in finding it for you either.

did you seriously start an ENTIRELY NEW THREAD to respond to another existing and well-posted thread, because you couldn't be bothered to locate it? think of what an even bigger mess this forum would be if everyone just posted random responses to each other in new threads.

signed,
annoyed in the sticks.

p.s. the search took took two words and 1.27 seconds by randy's servers.

[fishguy]

Originally Posted by ace10

that's ok, i'm not really interested in finding it for you either.

did you seriously start an ENTIRELY NEW THREAD to respond to another existing and well-posted thread, because you couldn't be bothered to locate it? think of what an even bigger mess this forum would be if everyone just posted random responses to each other in new threads.

signed,
annoyed in the sticks.

p.s. the search took took two words and 1.27 seconds by randy's servers.

i searched "lotus challange", didnt come up, thats as far as i am searching.
sorry you are annoyed, but thats not my problem or anyone elses, but yours alone.
I (could be) annoyed that you hijacked my thread , but dont really take this place too seroiusly, so I am not annoyed, but more so, I am amused that i annoyed you so easily.
many times you contribute much to the forum, this time was not one of them .
I would like to see how many in that thread are in fact on the west coast/Socal. IIRC, many were.
No pictures sorry.

[fishguy]

Originally Posted by boxerman

We dont need another whole SCCA system for more casual lotus events. Think the type of club racing that existed in the 50"s.

think of how many guys died/were seriously injured racing in the 50s too.

[LarryB]

The thread about this is here:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46069

They plan on gearing up for next year. More of a time trail then wheel to wheel racing to follow. The idea is to let folks get into it and start to prep their cars for wheel to wheel. Do agree going to full roll cage and all the other requirements it's going to take will be limiting. Throw in how fragile the Elise/ Exige is to contact and you've got a pretty limited pool. Think keeping the time trail part of it will help making a go of a series. It's a track group that mainly runs the SoCA tracks with a few side trips to Nev. and Laguna Seca.

[fishguy]

Originally Posted by LarryB

The thread about this is here:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46069

Throw in how fragile the Elise/ Exige is to contact and you've got a pretty limited pool.

thanks LarryB.
i would agree it would take having very deep pockets to run these in a race group.


as promised;
One picture of the nicest Exige i have ever seen(it was stunning in person), the guy drove it like it was meant to be driven..................in a competitve race.
next time i want to watch the races a bit more, i had to much to do trying to figure out my new formula car and what needed to be worked on, and how to do it, in between sessions.
the Exige owner was a really nice, friendly guy too.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by Toad

Ya know Texas is nice and centrally located for such an event

Just think of the costs savings the coastal guys would see!


Hmmm... pretty car, not a fan of the "McDonald's livery" - looks like one of the center steerers?

[EliseCat]

You should have held the picture hostage longer!

Beautiful race car.

[LarryB]

Saw the old and new owner of that car back in May at Thunderhill. The old owner was running a S2 Cup car and regretting letting the old S1 go. LOL at Infineon ran into the new owner of that S2 Cup car, heard the old owner is moving on to the 2-11. Only had my point and shoot camera and didn't get any really good shots. Thanks for posting that one up.

OK here is one of the inside...

[fishguy]

thats the one larry.
IMO, the red/yellow in person was awesome, but thats just my opinion.
lots more shots from the HSR weekend of some really cool vintage cars. i will start a new thread when i get the chance to go through the shots.

[Richard 350z]

cool how the driver's seat is right in the middle. Perfect weight distribution.

[habendanio]

I've seen the car before. I think he's the owner of Lotus of San Luis Obispo.
Smith Volvo/Lotus.

[boxerman]

Originally Posted by fishguy

think of how many guys died/were seriously injured racing in the 50s too.

No problem with modern safety

[shay2nak]

anyone know if one can buy the S1 exige stock wheels?

[Aedo]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

anyone know if one can buy the S1 exige stock wheels?

no longer comonly available - I've only seen them a few times second hand... but why do you ask? They only fit on S1s (different PCD to S2) and some earlier Lotus cars.

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by Aedo

no longer comonly available - I've only seen them a few times second hand... but why do you ask? They only fit on S1s (different PCD to S2) and some earlier Lotus cars.

well, i like the design and widths...7" front and 8.5" back. I don't know how much they weigh and I don't know the offsets. What's PCD? These are not 4x100? Or is the wheel center piece and hub different diameters? I don't know why the S2 exige came with widths of 6.5" and 7.5" when the S1 had 7" and 8.5". If the S2 came with these sizes, I wouldn't have to buy a new set of wheels.